'Quantum Leap' In COVID-19 Cases Puts Chicago Reopening On Hold

CHICAGO — An ongoing spike in coronavirus cases will put an indefinite hold on further lifting social distance restrictions on businesses and public gatherings, Mayor Lori Lightfoot said Wednesday.

As of Wednesday, the city's coronavirus test positivity rate was 4.5 percent, up more than a percentage point from earlier this month. An on average of nearly 500 Chicagoans a day tested positive for COVID-19 over the last seven days. That's almost a 40 percent spike from last week, public health data shows.

"That’s a quantum leap from where we were even three weeks ago. That is concerning. And that is obviously dictating that we have to proceed with caution as we open up," Lightfoot said. "We’re not gonna see anything more significant in the reopening front until we see those numbers stabilize and start to come down."

The increase in cases has been driven by young adults in North Side neighborhoods, public health officials said.

"Seeing the uptick on the North Side that we’ve seen, we are concerned, and we’re urging members of those communities, whether it’s Old Town, Lakeview, Lincoln Park, Portage Park, Old Irving, that’s where we’re seeing the increase," Lightfoot said. "And we’re seeing it in the 18-39 year old cohort across different races. We’re concerned.”